Pentagon makes moves to contain complaints from US troops in Iraq

http://www.prweek.com/news/news_stor...=186846&site=3

August 06 2003

Pentagon makes moves to contain complaints from US troops in Iraq

Written by Douglas Quenqua

WASHINGTON:

After several troops made some highly publicized negative comments
to
the media about the war effort in Iraq, the Pentagon has taken steps
to keep the frustrations of both soldiers and their families out of
reports.

According to a story in the July 25 edition of Stars and Stripes,
the
military appears to be curtailing its much-touted
embedded-journalist
program, which has allowed reporters almost unfettered access to
military units throughout the war and occupation.

The 3rd Infantry Division, from where many complaints have arisen,
has
expelled many of its embedded reporters, and its troops are no
longer
allowed to talk to the media outside of pre-approved news features.

Lt. Col. Michael Birmingham, 3rd ID spokesman in Baghdad, told the
military paper that the division is "no longer embedding for short
stays."

According to the report, exceptions to the policy have been made for
three journalists who were embedded during the war and have returned
to Iraq.

Soldiers' families are also being advised not to complain to the
media, according to news reports.

After being told that 3rd ID soldiers would be staying in Iraq
longer
than expected, families received an e-mail message from a
rear-detachment commander warning against contacting the press "in a
negative manner regarding the military and this deployment."

The sharpest and most widely reported criticism by troops came on
July
16, when a handful of tired and seemingly disillusioned troops from
the 3rd ID offered scathing remarks about top Pentagon brass to an
ABC
News reporter.

One called on Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to resign, and
another said, "I've got my own most-wanted list," which included
Rumsfeld and President Bush.

I think I heard or read something about this kind of thing happening before.
I believe it was in this place called viet something, about 25 or 30 years
ago. I can't remember the exact details, but when the journalists lost
direct access to the troops in the field, the journalists started digging
around or something and started to write these real critical accounts of the
war. I think that all these very critical accounts of this minor war
started to appear and things seemed to get out of control, some how. I
could be wrong, but I seem to recall this.

Could the same thing be happening again? Is it deja-vu all over again?

--
If you get what you want, what's to stop you
from asking for more?

"Anonymous" wrote in message
news:9cae594cb1ecb42ad4552f02a6e322ed@rebleep...
> http://www.prweek.com/news/news_stor...=186846&site=3
>
> August 06 2003
>
> Pentagon makes moves to contain complaints from US troops in Iraq
>
> Written by Douglas Quenqua
>
> WASHINGTON:
>
> After several troops made some highly publicized negative comments
> to
> the media about the war effort in Iraq, the Pentagon has taken steps
> to keep the frustrations of both soldiers and their families out of
> reports.
>
> According to a story in the July 25 edition of Stars and Stripes,
> the
> military appears to be curtailing its much-touted
> embedded-journalist
> program, which has allowed reporters almost unfettered access to
> military units throughout the war and occupation.
>
> The 3rd Infantry Division, from where many complaints have arisen,
> has
> expelled many of its embedded reporters, and its troops are no
> longer
> allowed to talk to the media outside of pre-approved news features.
>
> Lt. Col. Michael Birmingham, 3rd ID spokesman in Baghdad, told the
> military paper that the division is "no longer embedding for short
> stays."
>
> According to the report, exceptions to the policy have been made for
> three journalists who were embedded during the war and have returned
> to Iraq.
>
> Soldiers' families are also being advised not to complain to the
> media, according to news reports.
>
> After being told that 3rd ID soldiers would be staying in Iraq
> longer
> than expected, families received an e-mail message from a
> rear-detachment commander warning against contacting the press "in a
> negative manner regarding the military and this deployment."
>
> The sharpest and most widely reported criticism by troops came on
> July
> 16, when a handful of tired and seemingly disillusioned troops from
> the 3rd ID offered scathing remarks about top Pentagon brass to an
> ABC
> News reporter.
>
> One called on Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to resign, and
> another said, "I've got my own most-wanted list," which included
> Rumsfeld and President Bush.

"Anonymous" wrote in message >
> After being told that 3rd ID soldiers would be staying in Iraq
> longer
> than expected, families received an e-mail message from a
> rear-detachment commander warning against contacting the press "in a
> negative manner regarding the military and this deployment."
>
> The sharpest and most widely reported criticism by troops came on
> July
> 16, when a handful of tired and seemingly disillusioned troops from
> the 3rd ID offered scathing remarks about top Pentagon brass to an
> ABC
> News reporter.

Uh oh. The troops are criticizing the Pentagon brass. Here is a new and
unprecedented development.

Right.

ted

"meport" wrote in message
news:SpqYa.637$BC2.260@newsread2.news.atl.earthlin k.net...
> I think I heard or read something about this kind of thing happening
before.
> I believe it was in this place called viet something, about 25 or 30 years
> ago. I can't remember the exact details, but when the journalists lost
> direct access to the troops in the field, the journalists started digging
> around or something and started to write these real critical accounts of
the
> war. I think that all these very critical accounts of this minor war
> started to appear and things seemed to get out of control, some how. I
> could be wrong, but I seem to recall this.
>
> Could the same thing be happening again? Is it deja-vu all over again?

Wrongo, as usual. The dissent began with D. Halberstam et alia, before U.S.
combat units ever got to the field. That would date it to 40 years ago not
30. But then you were never concerned with such truthful details. As in
one of your earlier accounts: Tell us again about your learning of the
impending Tet Offensive, whilst reading classified documents as you operated
your bulldozer.

ted
>
> --
> If you get what you want, what's to stop you
> from asking for more?
>
> "Anonymous" wrote in message
> news:9cae594cb1ecb42ad4552f02a6e322ed@rebleep...
> > http://www.prweek.com/news/news_stor...=186846&site=3
> >
> > August 06 2003
> >
> > Pentagon makes moves to contain complaints from US troops in Iraq
> >
> > Written by Douglas Quenqua
> >
> > WASHINGTON:
> >
> > After several troops made some highly publicized negative comments
> > to
> > the media about the war effort in Iraq, the Pentagon has taken steps
> > to keep the frustrations of both soldiers and their families out of
> > reports.
> >
> > According to a story in the July 25 edition of Stars and Stripes,
> > the
> > military appears to be curtailing its much-touted
> > embedded-journalist
> > program, which has allowed reporters almost unfettered access to
> > military units throughout the war and occupation.
> >
> > The 3rd Infantry Division, from where many complaints have arisen,
> > has
> > expelled many of its embedded reporters, and its troops are no
> > longer
> > allowed to talk to the media outside of pre-approved news features.
> >
> > Lt. Col. Michael Birmingham, 3rd ID spokesman in Baghdad, told the
> > military paper that the division is "no longer embedding for short
> > stays."
> >
> > According to the report, exceptions to the policy have been made for
> > three journalists who were embedded during the war and have returned
> > to Iraq.
> >
> > Soldiers' families are also being advised not to complain to the
> > media, according to news reports.
> >
> > After being told that 3rd ID soldiers would be staying in Iraq
> > longer
> > than expected, families received an e-mail message from a
> > rear-detachment commander warning against contacting the press "in a
> > negative manner regarding the military and this deployment."
> >
> > The sharpest and most widely reported criticism by troops came on
> > July
> > 16, when a handful of tired and seemingly disillusioned troops from
> > the 3rd ID offered scathing remarks about top Pentagon brass to an
> > ABC
> > News reporter.
> >
> > One called on Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to resign, and
> > another said, "I've got my own most-wanted list," which included
> > Rumsfeld and President Bush.
>
>

I guess the powers that be wouldn't have to worry if the statements were, in
fact, totally FALSE ! (Duh - tell you anything ?) I hope the families blow
it W-I-D-E open ! ! !


"Anonymous" wrote in message
news:9cae594cb1ecb42ad4552f02a6e322ed@rebleep...
> http://www.prweek.com/news/news_stor...=186846&site=3
>
> August 06 2003
>
> Pentagon makes moves to contain complaints from US troops in Iraq
>
> Written by Douglas Quenqua
>
> WASHINGTON:
>
> After several troops made some highly publicized negative comments
> to
> the media about the war effort in Iraq, the Pentagon has taken steps
> to keep the frustrations of both soldiers and their families out of
> reports.
>
> According to a story in the July 25 edition of Stars and Stripes,
> the
> military appears to be curtailing its much-touted
> embedded-journalist
> program, which has allowed reporters almost unfettered access to
> military units throughout the war and occupation.
>
> The 3rd Infantry Division, from where many complaints have arisen,
> has
> expelled many of its embedded reporters, and its troops are no
> longer
> allowed to talk to the media outside of pre-approved news features.
>
> Lt. Col. Michael Birmingham, 3rd ID spokesman in Baghdad, told the
> military paper that the division is "no longer embedding for short
> stays."
>
> According to the report, exceptions to the policy have been made for
> three journalists who were embedded during the war and have returned
> to Iraq.
>
> Soldiers' families are also being advised not to complain to the
> media, according to news reports.
>
> After being told that 3rd ID soldiers would be staying in Iraq
> longer
> than expected, families received an e-mail message from a
> rear-detachment commander warning against contacting the press "in a
> negative manner regarding the military and this deployment."
>
> The sharpest and most widely reported criticism by troops came on
> July
> 16, when a handful of tired and seemingly disillusioned troops from
> the 3rd ID offered scathing remarks about top Pentagon brass to an
> ABC
> News reporter.
>
> One called on Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to resign, and
> another said, "I've got my own most-wanted list," which included
> Rumsfeld and President Bush.